Trenching machine



Oct, 7, 1930. H. LAMONT 1,777,439

l TRENCHINGV MACHINE Filed oct. 17, 1921 5 2 sheets-snee: 1

Oct. 7, 1930. H. LAMONT TRENCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figa Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I-IENBFYV LAMONT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T .AUSTIN` MACHINERY CORPORA- TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION ILLINOIS TRENCHING MACHINE This invention relates in general to trenching machines and has for its'object the provision for cutting a wider trench in proportion to size of trenching machine than has heretofore been practicable. In the past it has been generally the custom to provide trenching machines larger in all respects for the cutting of a wi'der trench than for the cutting of a narrower one.

This invention contemplates the provision of side cutting mechanism which may be positioned at the side of a main cutting and dirt conveying mechanism to cut a Awide trench, orwhich may be left oif or-removedfor `the cutting of a narrower one, the parts being so constructed and arranged that no additional strength of frame and weight of apparatus (except for the side cutters themselves) are required.

2o A further important object of the invention is the provision of actrenching machine adapted to cut a wide trench and at the same time be light in weight and require relatively little material in its manufacture.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrates bodiment thereof.

. Referring to` the drawing: Figure 1 is aside elevation ofa trenching machine embodying my present invention.

Fig'.` 2 is a rear elevation of the diggingV parts; and i Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line `3.--3 of Figure 1.V j For thepurpose of illustrating my invention I have shown upon thedrawing a trenching machine body 11 mounted upon front wheels 12, and rear belt traction means 13.

These'- and other-partsof the body and running gear Vare Yshown merely. schematically since they fcrm no new elements or parts of my present invention,

a preferred em- Reference character 14 indicates a suitable source of power, as a gas engine or the like, which through suitable gearingtnot shown) drives a shaft 15. This shaft in'turn 'drives a power shaft 16'through a sprocket chain 17. A bucket boom 18 is pivoted about the shaft 16inany usual or preferred manner and may have any usualor preferred construction, eX- cept that when my invention is incorporated in the boom1 and'bucket type of trench digger certain features of construction to be herein later described, I believe desirable to its best operation. As shown on tliedrawing Vthe boom isof fabricated metal, made up of channels 19 and 20 and side plates 21, a truss structure 2 2 lbeing providedat the top. At the lower end the boom carries idler pulleys 23 upon 'abottom cross shaft 24. Overthese idler pulleys and extending about sprockets 25 at the top-on power shaft 16, are two conveyor chains 2'6'which constitute the conveyor chains of the main driving mechanism. These Vchains carry digging buckets 27 of any usual or preferred construction and in the;present instance a number of these digging buckets are provided with side extensions 28. Additional idlers 29Hare mounted in brackets 31'above4 and below the boom to receivev the conveyor chains 26. Y At each side of the digging and conveying mechanism just described I provide auX- iliary side diggers. The shaft 2a has bearings at the bottom of the boom at 32 and extends out beyond said bearings, carrying upon each end .a pairfof idler pulleys 33 suitably secured thereon as by a pin passing through the shaft.V A shaft 31 like the shaft 24. is simil'arly mounted in bearings 35 provided upon side plates 21 and this shaft carries an idler 36 secured at each end by a pin passing therethrough. A shaft 37 is provided like shafts 24 and 34, through the boom at about the normal ground levelin digging, and this shaft carries two pairs of sprocket wheels 38, haying .a central hubor sleeve 39 embracing said shaft 37 and secured thereon by pins. A sprocket wheel 4l is mounted upon the shaft 37 at each side and is adapted for interlocking relation at 42 with the hub 39 associated with it on the shaft end. Each sprocket wheel 41 is connected by a sprocket chain 43 with a sprocket 44 on the shaft 16 so that the shaft 16 constitutes a source of power for independently driving the side diggers. A pair of chains 45 take over sprocket 38 and idlers 36 and 33 and these Vchains carry auxiliary digging bucket-s 46 arranged at'intervals.

The action of the various cutters in cutting the trench may be observed from Figure 3. Theauxiliary digging mechanisms are not intended in the present instance to convey any dirt cut, merely cutting the side of the trench and permitting the earth removed to be carried upwardly by the main diggingand conveying mechanism. To insure this Scrapers or 'deiiectors 47' are provided at intervals in the'cliains 45 and between theauxiliary buckets 46, to deflect the dirt removed iny toward the Vcentral conveyor.

Wide or narrow trenches may be cut with the same apparatus depending upon whether or not the side digging mechanisms are included in the apparatus; they may be readily removed by merelyV taking off the idlers and the chains, removing the shafts 24, 34 and 37 and replacing said shafts with shorter ones. In this action the sprocket wheels 41 may or may not be removed as desired. Itmay be noted in the present instance these sprockets are Well within the cutting zone of the main digging mechanism.

It will be manifest that trenching machines of any usual kind can be equipped' with theseA side cutting mechanisms with relativelyV few changes and additions of parts.

It is believed that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing without further description and it will be obvious thatfvarious changes can be made in the type of apparatus, form, construction, and arrangement of parts, without departing from theY spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all o-f its material advantages, the-form hereinbefore'described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: Y 1. In a trenching machine, the combina-l tion of a continuously mbving main digging,` and conveying mechanism, a pair of chains arranged side by .side at each side of said main mechanism,` and laterally extended `diggers mounted on Land carriedby saidpair of chains. i f

2.,v In vatrenching machine, the combination of-a continuously-movingmain digging.

and, conveying' mechanism,.l a.r` plurality of; chains .arranged sideby sideata side of-said;y

fis mais mechanismsand'laterally extended dggers mounted on and carried by said plurality of chains.

3. In a trenching machine, the combination of a continuously moving main digging and conveying mechanism, a plurality of chains arranged side by side at a side of said mechanism, and laterally extended diggers mounted on and carried by said plurality of chains, and inclined means on said chains for throwing material inwards Within the scope of said main mechanism.

4. In a ytrencliing machine, the combination of a continuously moving main digging and conveying mechanism, a chain arranged at eachV side of said mai-n mechanism, scariliers mounted on each saidchain arranged at the sides of said main mechanism, and inclined means on said chains for throwing material inwards within the scope of said main mechanism.

5. In a trenching machine,`the combination of a continuously moving-mainy digging and conveying mechanism, and auxiliary digging means attachable to and removable from both sides of said main mechanism, and havin-g a plurality of teeth arranged side by side and giving relatively wide lateral extension to said auxiliary digging' means.

6. In a trenching machine, the'combinationA Vof a continuously moving'main digging and conveying mechanism, and auxiliary digging means attachable to and removable from a side of said main mechanism', having a-plurality of teeth arranged side by Side and giving relatively wide lateral extension to said auxiliary digging means.l

7. In atrenchingY machine, the combination of a continuously moving main digging and conveying mechanism, a chain arranged at a side of saidmainv mechanism, scariers mounted on sai'd chain', and inclined means on said chain for throwing materialy inwards within the scope of said main mech-Y mainf central digging andv conveyor mecha-f nism. and supported by said side digging chain mechanism, and deector Scrapersmounted" betweensaid scarifiers and- 'adapted to deflect the material loosened by the-scariiers towardandintothe path'of movement of said mainz central digging. andi conveyor mechanism.

, 9. VInl-a machine of 'the'c1ass"described, the` combination. of amain4 central. digging and conye'yor mechanism, a portableframe upon which said digging and conveyorI mechanism is mounted, side digging chainslocated'Y 

